Kyron rockets up the rankings (From Barry And District News)

Kyron rockets up the rankings

KYRON SULLIVAN, from Barry, has won his first professional golf title at the age of 29.

Kyron took the first prize of 19,200 euros at the European Challenge Tour's Estoril Challenge when he beat England's Ben Mason in a play-off.

The victory, at Pehna Lonmga Golf Club, in Estoril, swept Kyron 88 places up the Challenge Tour rankings, from 95th place to eighth.

The Barry man finished the regulation 72 holes in a 4 under par total of 284 in a marathon final day on Sunday, when he completed his third and fourth rounds after torrential rain had forced play to be suspended on Saturday afternoon.

Kyron set the standard for the best day of his professional career when he opened with two birdies to complete the third round in a one under par 72, and followed up with a fourth round 74 to go into the extra holes.

The sudden-death play-off ended on the first extra hole when Mason bogeyed and Kyron sank a tricky three-footer for the title.

Barry's new star said afterwards: "I was very nervous over that putt because I had three-putted the 17th for bogey about 20 minutes before, but I got over it, went through the routine and was just delighted to see it drop."

He added: "It feels great to have won here and it is a little extra special that I won here in Portugal because I have been coming here for years with the Welsh Golf Union so I have always felt at home here.